Semaphore.



V. C. DE YBARRONDO & F, D. BQTILLER.

' SBMAPHOBE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 191-0 1,058,212, I Patented Apr. s, 1913.

a. I ,1. NT

tlsmeag a/ image/5 27's,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VINCENT C. DE YBARRONDO AND FRANK D. BOTILLER, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SEMAPHORE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 25, 1910. Serial 1 \To. 564,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that" we, VINCENT C. on YBARnoivuo and FRANK D. BOTILLER, both citizens of the United States of America, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angel cs, State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Semaphore; and We do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to semaphores; and consists of a ndvel construction for parts of the apparatus, and the novel arrangement and combination of parts and devices therein, as will appear later from the description and as set fol-thin the appended claims.

Objects of the invention are to provide an electric automatically operated semaphore; which shall be adapted to use either direct current or alternating current, and which shall be suitable for use at road crossings or on sections of a block-signal system, on either a single track or a double track railway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a semaphore operable through the in strumentalit-y of electrical devices all of which derive current from but the same single source of supply.

A further object of the invention is to provide positive mechanical locking means for the operating mechanism connected with the signal arm, when the latter is in predetermined positions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide for the automatic lighting of lamps on the semaphore to give the signals when the arm can not be used for the purpose.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a semaphore which shall be quick acteconomical of current, constructed with few and simpleparts and devices which are compactly arranged and well protected, not liable to get out of order, and cheap to install and maintain in use.

In connection with the following descrip tion, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrai'nmatic view of the invention.

Correspondingand like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated upon the drawing by the same reference characters.

The numeral 2 designates a signal arm which is mounted upon a shaft 3. This signal arm 2 is operated through the instrumentality of the disk crank 11 which is rigid upon one end of the shaft- 14, a connecting rod 12 being provided which has one extremity thereof eccentrically pivoted to the disk 11, while the opposite extremity thereof is loosely connected to an arm 13 upon the shaft 3.-

The numeral 21 designates an electric motor, the motor shaft 27 being provided with a pinion 23 which meshes with a gear 25 upon the shaft 14: for the purpose of driving the latter. The electro-responsive mechanism for governing the operatidrr of the motor preferably comprises the electric switch '26 andthe electro-responsive device 24 which is adapted to govern the motor circuit and co-act with the operating mechanism for the signal arm to mechanically lock the latter in predetermined indicating positions.

The circuit closing device 28 at one end of the block or sub-division of the track, preferably comprises a spring pressed plunger contact 29 which has an operative connection with a block arranged adjacentthe track rail This block 33 is formed with a convex face 34 which faces the rail, said convex face of the block being adapted to engage the flange of .a wheel for the purpose of forcing the block temporarily away from the track, the plunger contact 29 being then forced inwardly against the action of the spring. lVhcn this plunger contact 29 is forced inwardly by the operation of the block 33 it impinges against the contacts 35, 36 and 37, with results to be hereinafter described. The circuit closing device at the opposite end of the block or sub-division of the railway track is identical in construction with that just described.

The electrorcsponsive device 24 which is preferably arranged to close the motor circuit and also adapted to co-act with the operating mechani n connected between the mounted on standard 17 and adapted to have one end thereof normally rest on the contact 42 and be moved to bring the spring tongue 43 insulatedly carried thereby into electrical contact with the terminal post 44 when the electromagnets 39 are energized. The other end 45 of member 41 may be upwardly pressed by a spring 46 secured .to standard 17 and is adapted to lit in one or the other of notches 47, 47 in. the disk crank 11 to open the motor circuit and interlock with the operating mechanism for the signal arm when the latter reaches a predetel-mined indicating position.

To indicate th" position of the signal arm afterdark, automatically lighted colored electric lamps may be arranged on the arm; in this instance a red lamp being shown at 48 and a green lamp being shown at 49, near the end of the arm.

Preferably mounted on an extension 50 of shaft 14 sons to beoperated by the motor, are thewipers 51-and 52; the wiper til being-i insulated from the shaft and adapted to continuously press against the contact member 53 and provided with a projected portion 54 adapted to impinge against one or the other of the contact members 55 and. 56, and the wiper 52fbeing adapted to impinge against one or the" other of contact members 57 and 58.

Any suitable form of generator 92 may have one of its terminals connected with the positive side 60 of the current supply circuit and its other terminal connected with the negative side 93 of said circuit, the latter, shown, being grounded.

With: the above construction of parts and the combination of the parts and devices preferrzil ily arranged in circuits as will be described, the operation of the semaphore may be as tollowsfAssuming that the wheel 59 is passing ,in the direction of the arrow A over rails 32 and that the circuit closing devices 28 are arranged at each side of a railway crossing or at each end of a block of railway, when the wheel passes over the track and the flange thereof moves against the convex face 34 of the nearest circuit closing device the latter is operated, and current may flow from the positive side 60 of the supply circuit, by way of conductor 61 through the electromagnets 26 of switch 26, through conductors 62 and G3 to spring.-.

42, thence through the insulated end portion 72 of member 41 to conductor 73- which is shown connected to conductor 66 leading to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit. Upon the electromagnets 39 being energized to attract the armature 74 secured to member 41, one end of the member is raised to cause its end 45 to moye out of notch 47 in the disk crank and to cause the contact 43 at its other end to abut against the contact 44; whereupon the motor may operate by current flowing from the positive side 60 of the supply circuit, through conductor 75, contacts 43 and 44, conductor 76 to brush 77, thence through the motor 21 and brush 78 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit. The operation of the motor will turn the disk crank to move the signal arm from the clear position. The end 45 of member 41 being pressed againstthe periphery of the disk crank by spring 46 will move into notch 47 when the arm is moved to the stop position, whereupon the contacts 43 and 44 are separated and the motor circuit opened, it being understood that the spring 79, which is stiff enough to prevent action of device 28-except through the instrumentality of wheel 59, returns the parts of the device to normal position after the wheel has passed over the track by the block 38 and that the switch 26 thereuponopens and the electromagnets 39 are thereby deenergized When the wheel reaches the other circuit closing device 28 and actuates it, current may flow-from the positive side of the line 60, through conductor 61, electromagnets 26, conductors 62 and 80 to contact 37, across plunger contact 29 to contact 35', thence through conductors 81 and 82 to contact member 58 against which the wiper 52 impinges when the signal arm is in the stop position, through wiper 52 and shafts 50 and 14 to crank disk 11,,thence through member 41 and conductor 66 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit; whereupon, it will be understood, as before, the switch 26 is closed, the electromagnets 39 energized to move member 41 out of the notch in the disk crank and to close the motor circuit to cause the motor to turn the disk crank until the signal arm moves to the clear position and the motor circuit is opened by the end portion 45 of the member 41 moving into notch 47 in the disk crank. In case now the wheel 59 be considered as passing over the rails 32 of the track Lin the direction of the arrow B; the nearest of the circuit closing devices 28 will be operated through the instrumentality of the wheel, and current may pass from the positive side 60 of the supply circuit, through conductor 61, electromagnets 26, conductors 62 and 8G to contact 37, across plunger contact 29 to contact 36', through conductors 83 and 65 to contact member 57 thence through wiper 52, shafts 50 and 14, disk crank 11 and member 41 and conductor 66 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit, whereupon, as Will be understood from what had already been described, the motor will operate to move the signal arm to the stop position and the Wiper 52 t0 impinge against the contact member 58. When now the wheel operates the next of the circuit closing devices 28, currentmay flow from the positive side of the supply circuit, through conductor 61, electromagnet-s 26', conductors62 and 63 to contact 37, through plunger contact 29 to contact 36, through conductors 81 and 82 to contact member 58, through wiper 52, shafts 50 and 14- to disk c ank 11, thence through member 41 and conductor 66 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit; where upon, as will he understood from what has gone before, the motor will move the signal arm to the clear position and also cause the wiper to impinge against contact member 57.

It will beinoted from the above description that when one of the circuit closing devices 28 is operated, the conditions are such that 'further actuation of it is ineffective until the other of the devices has operated.

The preferable arrangement for automatically lighting the lamps on the signal arm to give proper indications will now be described; the single throw switch 84 is connected by conductor with the positive side 60 of the supply circuit and connects the conductor 85 with conductor 86. W hen,

.as shown, the signal arm is in the clear po sition, the circuit through the green lamp 49 only is closed; the path of the current being from conductor 86 through conductor 87 leading to the lamp, through conductor 88 leading from the lamp to contact member 55, through the wiper 51 and contact member 53, thence through conductors 89 and 66 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit.

'lVhen the signal arm is moved to the stop position, it will be seen that the protruded portion 5-1 of the wiper 51 impinges against the contact member 56, and in that case the red lamp 43 only will be lighted, the current thereto passing from the conductor 86 by way of the conductor 90 leading to the lamp, conductor 91 leading away from the lamp to contact member 56, thence through wiper 51 to contact member 53, and thence by condu tors S9 and 66 to the negative side 67 of the supply circuit.

As will appear from the foregoing. currenttlowing in the various ircuits is prefcrahly derived from the same single source of supply.

While one form in which the invention may be embodied has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art and the right is reserved to all such changes and modifications as do not depart from the spirit and scope. of the invention.

\Ye claim:

1. In a semaphore, the (,OllllJlIitlllOll of electrically operated signal mechanism, electro-responsive mechanism for controlling the operation of the signal mechanism, track circuit closers for controlling the operation of the elcctro-rcs )onsive mechanism, and means operatively connected with the signal mechanism for causing each of the track circuit closers to become and remain inoperative after the operation thcrco't until after the other track circuit closer has been operated.

2. in an electric signal. the cmnbination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a signal mechanism having an operative connection with the motor, an electrorcs )onsivc mechanism for closing the motor circuit, means controlled by the electro-responsive mechanism for locking the signal inechanisn'i in predetermined positions and releasing it therefrom when the motor circuit is closed, and track circuit closers havingan operatite connection with the electroa'csponsivo mechanism.

In a scmaphorc, the con'ibinath'm of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, signal mechanism having an operative connection with the motor. clectro-rcsponsive mecha nism for governing the motor circuit, means actuated by the clectroa'csponsive mechanism for locking the signal mechanism in predetermined positions and releasing it therefrom when the motor circuit is closed, a pair of track circuit closers having an operative connection with the electro-responsive mechanism, and means for causing each of tlie track circuitcloscrs to become and remain inoperative after the operation thereof until after the other track circuit closer has also been operated.

4. In an electric signal, the combination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, signal mechanisn'i, an operative connection between the motor and signal mechanism, locking means to); holding the signal mechanism in predetermined positions, means for closing the motor circuit when the locking means is moved into an imperative position, electro-responsive n'ieans for moving the locking means into an inopeative position, and track circuit closers having an operative connection with the electro-responsive means.

5. In a semaphore, the combination with a signal arm, of an electric motor, operating mechanisn'i connected between the motor and I motor and co-act with the disk crank to me chanically lock said signal arm in predetermined positions, and means to actuate said electroresponsive mechanism through the instrumentality of a wheel passing over a railway track.

6. In an electric signal, the combination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a signal, an operative connection between the signal and the motor including a disk, :1 locking member cooperating with the disk to hold the signal in predetermined positions, contact members applied to the terminals of the open motor circuit, one of the said contacts being mounted upon the locking member so as to be brought into engagement with the opposite contact and close the motor circuit when the locking member is moved into an inoperative position. electro-responsive means controlling the locking member, and a track circuit closer having an operative connection with the electroresponsive means. i

7. In an electric signal, the combination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit,,;r

signal, an operative. connection between the signal and motor including a disk, :1 pivoted locking love adapted to coiiperate with the disk to hold the signal in predetermined positions, contacts applied to the. terminals of the open motor circuit, one of the said contacts being mounted upon the locking lever so as to be brought against the opposite contact and close the motor circuit when the locking lever is moved into an inoperative position, an electro-magnet for moving the locking lever into an inoperative position, electro-respmsive means arranged to control the flow of current through the said electromagnet, and a track circuit closer having an operative connection with the electro-responsive means.

8. In an electric signal, the combination of a. motor, a normally open motor circuit, a signal, an operative connection between the signal and the motor, a locking lever, means cooperating with the locking lever for bolding the signal in predetermined positions, contacts applied to the terminals of the motor circuit, one of the contacts being mounted upon the locking lever so as to engage the opposite contact and close the motor circuit when the locking lever is swung into an inoperative position, electroresponsive means for moving the locking lever into an inoperative position, and 'a track circuit closer havingan operative connection with the said electro-responsive means.

9. In a semaphore, the combination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a signal, an operative connection between the signal and toe motor, a locking lever, means cooperating with the locking lever to hold the signal in predetermined posihons, eletro-responsive means for controlling the operation of the locking lever, means for closing the motor circuit when the locking lever is moved into an inoperative position, a. pair of track circuit closers each of which normally has an operative connection with the electro-responsive means, and means for causing each of the track circuit closers to become and remain inoperative after the operation thereof until after the other track circuit closer has also been operated.

10. In a seamaphore, the combination of a motor, a normally open motor circuit, a signal, an operative connection between the signal and motor including a notched disk, a pivoted locking lever normall tending to engage one of the notches of t e disk to hold the signal in a redetermined position, means for closing tie motor circuit. when the lever is moved into an inoperative position, eleotro-responsive means adapted to move the lever into an inoperative position, a pair of track circuit closers each of which normally has an operative connection with the elcctro-responsive means, and means for causing each of the track circuit closers to become and remain inoperative after the operation thereof until after the other cir cuit closer has also been operated.

11. In an electric signal, the combination of a motor, an open motor circuit, a. signal, anoperative connection between the motor and the signal including a rotary element, a wiper upon the rotary element, a pair of contacts adapted to be successively engaged by the wiper as the signal is moved into 0posite positions, elect-ro-responsive means tor closing the motor circuit, a pair of track circuit closers, and an operative clectric'al connection between each of the track circuit closers and the electro-responsive means, said operative connections each including a different one-of the contacts and the wiper, each of the track circuit closers thus becoming and remaining inoperative after it has been actuated and has caused themotor to bring the wiper into engagement, with the opposite contact, the said inoperative condition continuing until after the other track circuit closer shall also have been operated to again set the motor in motion to bring the wiper back into engagement with the first contact. a i

12. In an electric signal, the combination of an electrically operated signal mechanism including a rotary element, a wiper upon the rotary element, a pair of contacts adapted to be successively engaged by the wiper as the signal is moved into opposite positions, a pair of track circuit closers, electro-responsive' means for controlling the electrically operated signal mechanism, and an operative electrical connection between each of the track circuit closers and the electro-responsive means, said operative connections each including circuit through a difierent one of the contacts and the wiper,

, nal mechanism to bring the wiper into engagement with the opposite contact, the said inoperative condition continuing until after. the other track circuit closer shall also have been operated to a ain set the signal mechanism in motion to ring the wiper back into engagement with the first contact.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses at Los Angeles, in the count fornia, this 30th day of April, A. D. 1910.

VINCENT C. on YBARRONDO FRANK D. BOTILLER.

Witnesses:

DAVE F. SMITH, ALEX. H. LIDDERS.

of Los Angeles, State of Cali- 15 

